Berlin man, already at odds with feds, charged with drug distribution

Friday

Aug 30, 2013 at 3:18 PM

By Linda Bock TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BERLIN — Less than a month after a 32-year-old Berlin man filed a civil suit against the federal government to reclaim cash and personal property, he was arrested Thursday on drug and tax evasion charges.

Eric W. Sliwa, 32, of 7 Estabrook Lane, Berlin, was indicted Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, 29 counts of money laundering, filing false tax returns and corruptly endeavoring to impede the administration of the Internal Revenue Service.

Mr. Sliwa was arraigned Thursday in U.S. District Court in Worcester. He requested a detention hearing, which was granted for Sept. 6. Mr. Sliwa was remanded to the custody of U.S. marshals after the brief court proceeding.

U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS agents raided Mr. Sliwa's four-bedroom home on June 27, 2012, taking away vehicles and other items. Investigators also seized almost $800,000 in cash, coins and collectibles from a safe deposit box, the complaint said.

The indictment alleges that, from 2001 to 2012, Mr. Sliwa and others distributed large quantities of marijuana. In June 2006, Sliwa set up a company, EWS Gem Corp., for the purpose of concealing his drug proceeds and making it appear as though he had legitimate income.

Mr. Sliwa is the president and CEO of EWS Gem Corp. in Princeton, according to the Massachusetts secretary of state's office. He is the sole employee, according to court records. The description of the business lists "marketing & distribution of semi-precious stones."

While Mr. Sliwa filed personal tax returns for the tax years 2008 through 2010, he failed to report all of the proceeds from his drug trafficking business, according to court documents. During the time period of the conspiracy, Mr. Sliwa purchased several assets, including his home in Berlin, a condominium in Vermont, and multiple vehicles.

Mr. Sliwa also possessed nearly $500,000 in cash as well as a coin and precious metal collection worth approximately $370,000, according to the indictment.

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Before Wednesday, Mr. Sliwa had not been charged. He filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court in Worcester several weeks ago. He claimed federal and local authorities had no right to seize certain items in the raid and they must be returned, the civil complaint said.

In March, Marlboro police took two cellphones and roughly $ 5,340 from Mr. Sliwa during a traffic stop. Those items were turned over to the DEA and any documentation on the traffic stop is part of an ongoing investigation, Marlboro police told Mr. Sliwa's lawyer. Mr. Sliwa is also seeking return of the items seized during the traffic stop, for a red light violation for which he was found not responsible.

Mr. Sliwa claimed the agencies that seized the items violated his rights and have not followed proper procedure in taking the items or in returning them. All of the correct paperwork to reclaim the items has been filed and Mr. Sliwa is entitled to get them back, the complaint said.

Mr. Sliwa's lawyer said in the federal filing earlier this month before the indictment was handed up that neither a criminal complaint nor indictment has been filed in relation to the search and seizures.

A total of $470,000 in cash and another $307,146 in coins and collectibles were seized from a safe deposit box at a Sovereign Bank. Two Rolex watches, another watch, a 2007 Ford F150, a 2008 Ducati motorcycle and $17,000 in cash were taken from Mr. Sliwa's home. Land records show Mr. Sliwa bought the four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home for $650,000 in 2011.